Adams County Youth Services Center
9’ x 5’ x 17’
Completed in the winter of 2021, “AYSC House of the Phoenix” is a commission through Think 360 Arts with Adams County Youth Services Center.
This sculpture has been fabricated from reclaimed door jambs. The choice of reclaiming discarded materials is not only an environmental statement, but its equally important function is to remind students at the facility that what once is considered discarded and useless, can still be precious and valuable.
“AYSC House of the Phoenix” is designed around the concept that these young men and women are experiencing a very tumultuous time in their lives. Their entire world is being turned upside down and their home life is completely shattered and transformed forever. As they walk across the campus or sit under a tree to think about life, it is my hope that they will find this towering sculpture as a source of inspiration to remind them that it’s not all over. There is such a bright future ahead of them if they are willing to take ownership of their actions and begin to take the necessary steps to heal and grow as young adults. Using the form of two homes, one upside down and stacked on top of the other will represent the core concept that their home life is undergoing significant changes. It may be some time before they are home again, so they will need to create and find a new home here at AYSC and within themselves.
The choice of blue and red represent two important symbols at AYSC; The Fire Phoenix & The Water Phoenix. Fire represents creation, destruction, transformation, and motivation. Fire consumes, but not without giving back light and warmth. It has great power for forging will and determination.
Water is the subconscious and purification. Water is the source of all life, without it the trees would not grow, the molecules would not form, and we would not be here, as our body is made up primarily of water. I believe that the students will draw many of their own inspirations around the idea of fire and water, and several teachers will be able to also use this concept in their classrooms.
During the year that I worked with Adams County Youth Services to teach students about public art and to create the concept for “Untitled”, we also discussed a number of books that were transformative to their lives. We decided that we wanted to share these important works with other students at the facility, to hopefully inspire them in the same way that my students were inspired.
18 books were preserved and sealed in resin and permanently adhered to benches lying around the playground and yard between the dorms and the school.